State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries SAPIC is a non-profit organization 501 (c) (3). Contributions are deductible under sections 170, 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Donation to Oak Grove

November 15, 2011- Mike Magee, President, [left] SAPIC, presenting a donation in the form of a check for $200.00 to Philp Berglund, township trustee in Yell Township in Webster County, Ia. Donation to be used for repair and landscaping effort at Oak Grove Cemetery.

PHOTOS OF GRAVE RELOCATION AT OAKGROVE

Next Meeting

The July 14 SAPIC meeting will be held in Albia, Iowa hosted by the Monroe County Pioneer Cemetery Commission. Meet at Kendall place anytime after 9 a.m. Saturday, July 14th. Kendall place is east side of Library 1 1/2 blocks on Benton Ave East, off the NE corner of square. Parking can be used along west side of Library, turn left off Benton on to 2nd Ave. 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. sign in 10:00 a.m. business meeting. Following that a powerpoint of our cleaned and restored cemeteries - 20 to 30 minutes. Plan to invite some landowners whose land we need to cross to get to cemeteries, want to recognize them at some point after powerpoint. Have asked the Board of Supervisors to come and want to touch on their help as they have always supported our commission. Lunch at 12 noon. It will be catered by Jim & Charlie's, local grocery store who does a lot of catering. Menu - Pulled pork, baked beans, a vegetable and cookie or bar. Coffee, tea and water. Coffee will be ready in the morning when folks arrive. Price $7 or $8 - pay when signing in After lunch, take a tour of our museum (school house & trains) which is in walking distance. Contact person: Rosalie Mullinix E-Mail: rosaliem@IowaTelecom.net Telephone: 641-932-5085

SAPIC History

The State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries was formed in 1996 as a result of legislation that allowed for each of the 99 counties to create a County Cemetery Commission. The focus of these Commissions was to rescue untended pioneer graves and cemeteries and to take responsibility for the upkeep of such sites. May is proclaimed Cemetery Appreciation Month each year by the Governor of the State of Iowa.

Our Pioneer Cemetery Concerns

Iowa law defines a Pioneer Cemetery as one in which there have been 12 or fewer burials in the past 50 years. If you know of a cemetery that qualifies for this distinction, and would like to have it recognized, please contact the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries to have it recorded. The law was changed from six to 12 burials in 2009 under 'standings bill' SJ 1150, and was signed by Gov. Chet Culver on May 26, 2009. See our PURPOSE below.

SAPIC GRANT APPLICATION

SAPIC Cemetery/Grave Marker Survey

SAPIC developed a survey form for the detailed documenting of cemeteries. The public is encouraged to use this form for documenting and/or recording cemeteries anywhere, whether they be pioneer, city, church, private, etc. and regardless of condition. A Word version is available for typing directly into the boxes and a PDF version is available to print and write on.

Microsoft Word version                    PDF version

Do not let this form scare you! Recording a cemetery of any size does require extensive dedication, but with the diversity between cemeteries, it is unlikely that every field will be filled. It is still important to do your best and complete the survey as fully as possible. Some of the fields will require additional research away from the cemetery, including the utilization of the library, courthouse and online information. The goal of this form is merely to serve as a guide with terminology to better understand our cemeteries and as a starting point towards cemetery restoration. Many abandoned cemeteries are far from what the pioneers had envisioned in their cemetery's future. We can prevent what remains of our cemeteries from facing the same fate. There are no regulations requiring cemeteries to use this form, but many wish they had a universal form to record their cemeteries and prevent what currently exists from entering oblivion. For those of you who are determined to undertake this challenge, we commend you!